As the National Watermelon Association prepares to hold its annual convention in February, the excitement is palpable, as NWA members will get to say “aloha” to a new location.

This year’s convention marks the first time in its 105 years that it will be held outside the continental United States, specifically on the Big Island of Hawai’i. The event takes place Feb. 20-23.

Bob Morrissey, executive director of the National Watermelon Association, said the energy and enthusiasm of his members are terrific as the convention approaches.

“I have to admit, there was some anxiety for the past four years after we announced that the 2019 convention would be in Hawai’i,” he said. “We weren’t sure how well it would be received, since we always experienced strong attendance before [on the mainland]. I owe a lot to Wayne Mininger, who recently retired from the National Onion Association, and our friends at Western Growers. Both associations have held their conventions in Hawai’i and provided us with valuable data about the success they experienced with their conventions there.”

Morrissey said the NWA typically gets the strongest turnout for its convention when it is held in the eastern portion of the United States. In fact, the convention in New Orleans in 2016 and the 2018 event in Nashville both saw record numbers.

But Morrissey is confident that the location and programming for the 2019 event provide a strong draw and will result in strong numbers.

“First, the resort is absolutely gorgeous,” he said. “And since we are the only group booked at the resort, we’ll have a complete takeover. It will be a literal ‘Watermelon World.’ This is prime season in Hawai’i and the weather will be perfect, with high temperatures in the low 80s and cooler nights in the 60s. Also, the golf courses are magnificent, and we’re excited to hold our annual Arnold Mack Invitational Golf Tournament on Wednesday, February 20. It will be a four-player best ball scramble at the Mauna Kea Golf Course right along the coast and is one of the most beautiful spots on the planet.”

Morrissey said registration numbers have been gradually building, but the association tends to see a large spike in registrations as the event approaches. “We are expecting that this will be our largest turnout at a venue west of Texas,” he said.Retired U.S. Army Major Ed Pulido.

Aside from the location, Morrissey said he is very excited about the speakers in the lineup.

“As Hawai’i is new for us, we also decided to change things up with regard to our speakers,” he said. “In the past we have brought politicians and other government officials in to address the challenges we face from a legislative point of view. This year, we are going a more motivational route.”

During the opening session on Feb. 22, retired U.S. Army Major Ed Pulido will talk about his perseverance and bravery after being injured by an IED while on a tour in Iraq in 2004. The devastating attack resulted in Maj. Pulido losing his left leg. He was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor, a Purple Heart, a Meritorious Service Medal, and Joint Service Commendation and Achievement Medals from President George W. Bush.

“I met Major Pulido five years ago, and we became pretty close. I am very proud that he considers me a friend,” said Morrissey. “He will speak about commitment and teamwork and how those are needed to be successful. It is timely for us, because our members had a very tough year, especially during the summer. We can learn a lot from Major Pulido. After his injury, his life could have gone a number of different ways, but he chose to stay positive and become the inspiring man he is today. I am excited for our members to hear what he has to say.”Jessica McCabe

During the general session on Feb. 23, Jessica McCabe, a YouTube sensation best known for her popular channel “How to ADHD,” will discuss the challenges of living with ADHD.

“Jessica was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and she will talk about her journey through life with the disorder,” said Morrissey. “It’s remarkable, because something like 8 or 10 percent of the population has the condition, so there is a good chance that it affects some of the people we deal with every day. Her presentation will essentially be an expanded Ted Talk, with a Q&A session at the end. This will be a much different type of speaker for us, but I know that our members will be inspired by her message.”

For more information or to register for the convention, visit watermelonconvention.com.